The Awareness Center is The Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA)

Case of Ari Sorkin

Synagogue Youth Worker - Congregation Keneseth Israel

Convicted of molesting children under his care.

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Table of Contents:

1. National Sex Offender Registry  (04/22/2006)
2. Synagogue Reacts to Arrest  (12/14/2000)
3. Man who had sex with teen, kept porn is sentenced; Montgomery youth adviser will spend 5 to 23 months in prison (03/01/2002)

Also see:  

1. Rabbis, Cantors and Other Trusted Officials

2. Offenders: Problems Our Parents Wouldn't Speak Of

3. Recidivism of Sex Offenders  (U.S. Department of Justice: Center for Sex Offender Management)

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April 22, 2006

http://www.nsopr.gov/

Type of Offense: 6312 - SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN

Date of Conviction: 12/7/2000

Name: ARI M SORKIN

Aliases: None listed in this registry

Year of Birth: 1978

Residence Address

City & Zip Code: GLENSIDE 19038

County of Residence: Montgomery

Facility of Higher Education

City & Zip Code: None listed in this registry

County of School: None listed in this registry

Employment Address

City & Zip Code: GLENSIDE 19038

County of Employer: Montgomery

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By Faygie Levy

Jewish Exponent  - December 14, 2000

V.208; N.25 p. 9

A former employee at a local synagogue was reportedly arrested last week on charges of the sexual abuse of children and related offenses reportedly stemming from an alleged relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

Ari Sorkin, 21, had worked at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park as the synagogue's full-time youth-activities director until October, when he resigned.

Though the congregation chose not to respond to questions about the matter, in a memo to K.I.'s members, Karen L. Sirota, president of the congregation, and Rabbi Selig Salkowitz, its interim senior rabbi, wrote, "Our congregational community had been deeply saddened to learn that a former employee, Ari Sorkin, was today accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct in his personal life. Ari last served K.I. in early October and has since formally resigned his position.

"To date, there have been absolutely no reported incidents of inappropriate behavior in the context of his performance as a teacher and youth group adviser at K.I. His employment history, prior to K.I., showed no evidence of inappropriate conduct.

"To the best of our knowledge, Ari's services to K.I. and its children, and his conduct in this context, were of the highest order. We believe it is best for all involved that we react to this misfortune in a measured and compassionate manner."

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By Frank Devlin Of The Morning Call

Morning Call (Allentown, PA) - March 1, 2002 Friday

FIRST EDITION - SECTION: COMMUNITY REPORT, Pg. B9

Shiela Sorkin cried as soon as she took the stand at her son's sentencing Thursday.

She pleaded with Montgomery County Judge Paul Tressler to spare her 23-year-old son, Ari, a jail sentence for having a sexual relationship with a teenage girl from Lower Salford Township and having child pornography.

She noted her son's volunteer work as a Jewish youth adviser and his devotion to his family. "Ari is my dear son," she said. But Tressler said not imposing a prison term would "violate my oath to do justice."

"I don't deal in mercy," the judge said. "I deal in justice."

He sentenced Ari Sorkin to five to 23 months in the county prison. Tressler said pornographic images of 10- to 17-year-old girls found on Sorkin's computer were "disgusting" and that the defendant's 16-year-old victim, who first contacted him over the Internet, grew emotionally troubled after their relationship.

But the judge said he believed that Sorkin, of Glenside, would not be a repeat offender, and he agreed with defense experts who found that Sorkin was not a pedophile or sexual predator.

Sorkin pleaded guilty in October to sexual abuse of children, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors.

A dozen friends, relatives and co-workers showed up at Tressler's Norristown courtroom to support Sorkin or say kind words about him. Rabbi Joseph Forman of Keneseth Israel Synagogue in Cheltenham Township said the defendant had been a "phenomenal teacher" and youth adviser there.

"The Jewish tradition is clear that every human being is in possession of a good inclination and a bad inclination, and those two forces struggle within us," Forman said. "It does not mean that, as a whole, we are not good and worthy human beings."

Sorkin resigned his position at the synagogue after he was accused in October 2000, the rabbi said, and an internal investigation has turned up no allegations against him.

The victim's family did not attend. Assistant District Attorney Kate Daniels read a statement by the victim's father, who said the girl dropped out of school and became angry and unhappy over the case.

The girl's father reported the case to police after finding her e-mail messages on the family's computer.

The girl initially refused Sorkin's request for sex but eventually complied, authorities have said. They had sex at Sorkin's home.

In his statement to the judge, Sorkin said he and his psychologist have been trying to pinpoint why he acted the way he did.

"I'm working very hard to correct these issues," he said. "I owe many people an apology."

Shiela Sorkin cried on the shoulder of her husband, Eric, as her son was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

frank.devlin@mcall.com

215-529-2614

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Last Updated:  04/22/2006

--Margaret Mead

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